Restaurants in Carteret

Pitas wrap their soft shells around crispy falafel, whose sizzling heat is quickly extinguished by creamy dollops of hummus. Sharp skewers gather marinated cubes of beef and lamb, holding them captive over charcoal grills. Each of these dishes emerges from Karam Restaurant’s Lebanon-inspired kitchens alongside a slate of spinach pies, stuffed peppers, grape-leaf sandwiches, and grilled cuts of shawarma. Comestibles can be enjoyed in-house, or toted away via take-out or delivery for at-home savoring or to utilize in all-pita performances of The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Named for a type of plane tree with a broad, sprawling crown, Chinar on the Island shelters diners in a space designed to look like a breezy Mediterranean courtyard. Sandstone archways and clusters of palms surround diners as they tuck into appetizers, such as fresh mussels and saffron shrimp, or point out which of the clouds painted on the ceiling are shaped most like fried calamari.

For the main meal, shareable kebab plates skewer grilled meats and veggies, and pilaf dishes steam tender rice with spices and vegetables in a tangine, or earthenware pot. Hearty traditional dishes, such as roast quail or lamb slow-cooked on the bone, can fill bellies or weigh down brass display vessels commandeered for impromptu rounds of shot put.

Tradition takes an experimental turn at Ngi Japanese Fusion, where chefs have set Japanese staples alongside jicama, ravioli, chowder, brandy butter sauce, crab bisque, and other creative fixings. Using fresh, organic ingredients and seafood that's delivered daily, they turn out filets and curry pots and craft exotic maki rolls with sweet potato tempura, asparagus, avocado, salmon, shrimp, and crab. The restaurant's contemporary space beautifully complements the chef's efforts—slick white seating, dark wood tables, a tiled bar glowing with neon blue lights, and glimmering silver tassels dangling between booths all give the décor a futuristic flare and diners a conversation starter as they sneak bites from other tables' plates.

Chock full o’Nuts traces its history to 1926 when William Black opened his first nut shop, which eventually expanded to a chain of coffee shops boasting gourmet caffeinated brews, freshly baked goods, and sandwiches. Patrons sip from blends such as 100% colombian and french roast while munching on history with the Chock Classic, a cream-cheese-and-date-nut bread confection sweeter than a baby panda scaling a mountain of sugar. Sandwiches and wraps placate heartier appetites, and smoothies, iced beverages, and hot specialty drinks pour into cups with ambrosial panache.

Drawing on his experience as chef and owner of Aesop's Table, executive chef Dominick Rappa constantly updates the menu of seasonally inspired fare at Rick's Cafe. Waiters serve wine and cocktails to pair with dishes topped with such toothsome curiosities as truffle porcini cream, chipotle ketchup, and marrownaise. Inspired by the character Rick Blaine from Casablanca, owner Joseph Aliotta steeps Rick's Cafe in a classic ambience set to big-band music—the building itself dates back from the Prohibition era, having sprouted from a single cluster of hops. Drinking glasses refract light onto an antique mahogany bar in front of an exposed brick wall. A fireplace illuminates cherry hardwood floors in the dining room, and a private outdoor patio hosts alfresco dining.